ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE SERIES

ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN: THE COMPLETE SERIES REVIEWED

“Laugh-In” is one of those shows that baby boomers used to love trotting out as being edgy. Then, they got older. When looking back on the series through the tinge of history, it’s amazing how much they got away with on American TV. The series sported one of the first major interracial casts. Hell, they had a wooden African American dummy on the show before most series had two black actors converse with each other. Plus, they squeezed in Dick Nixon while he was at the start of his Presidential debacle.

The series resided in its Monday at 8PM EST slot for most of its run and that had to have been odd. What feels cliche now was casting the mold for live comedy that follows. Hell, people forget those early SNL episodes where Robert Klein goofed around in the background while ABBA performed on stage. American TV didn’t know what to do with sketch comedy at the time. The snobbier viewers would argue that they still don’t have an angle on it.

While the cast changed often, it was able to birth new talents with ease. Lily Tomlin arrived and peaked on the show. Hosts were able to blend their abilities with major skill. Plus, Goldie Hawn didn’t Chevy Chase style bail on the show when she got big. Hawn waited with a grace that seems to have eluded the later SNL star. Also, what’s up with Alan Sues? I used to watch this show in re-runs on Nick at Nite, but how did I never pay attention to what Alan Sues was laying down?

Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In: The Complete Series is only available through Time-Life’s website at TimeLife.com/LaughIn .